PREVALENCE OF GIARDIASIS AND ESTIMATE THE DISEASE EFFECTS ON TRACE ELEMENTS AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS IN MENOUFIA GOVERNORATE.
By
Dalia A. Shafey1 ,Nermin Abd-Almaksoud Afify2 and Marwa F. Yousef3
1Department of Clinical and Molecular Parasitology, National Liver Institute-Menoufia University, Shebin Al-kom, Menoufia, Egypt.
2Department of Clinical Pathology, Student Hospital Shebin Al-kom- Menoufia University,
3Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Liver Institute- Menoufia University. Shebin Al-kom, Menoufia, Egypt
Intestinal protozoan Giardia lamblia is common in Egypt, especially in children under five years. The pathological effects of the disease on serological trace elements levels such as zinc, copper and iron were assessed in this study. Out of 100 children aged between 1- and -5 years-old who were attended to the Pediatric Clinic of Shebin Al-kom educational hospital with gastrointestinal complaints there were 32 positives for giardiasis by stool microscopy, and they were enrolled as the study group (SG). Another 32 age-matched healthy children were considered as a control group (CG). Serological levels of zinc, copper and iron were measured. Regarding the study results, serum copper was higher than the normal level in 68.8% /0.0%, serum zinc was lower than the normal level in 78.1%/31.3% and serum iron was low in 71.9%/31.2% in SG and CG respectively. When compared separately as SG and CG, there was a statistically significant difference between the serological levels of all elements. According to the results of the study giardiasis infection like other infectious agents increased the serological levels of copper. However, due to malabsorption which occurs during giardiasis, zinc and iron levels decreased. Giardia infection in children under five years may cause severe acute diarrhea. Also, other complications as weight loss and growth failure may occur in chronic infection. Giardiasis is commonly distributed all over the world, especially in developing countries. Generally, children may have serious health complications, including short stature and underweight, for that reason, the main aim of this study was to determine the relation between Giardia infection and physical development of children under five. A cross-sectional study was done. Structured questionnaires were used to obtain the data, blood and stool samples were examined and anthropometric measurements were recorded. The study results detected that: the percentage of underweight children were 28.1%/65.6% in CG and SG respectively, and of stunted children were 31.2% /69.7% in CG and SG group respectively. In conclusion, according to the results of our study, giardiasis statistically played a main role for causing stunting and underweight in children under five.
June 2022